So many favorite cocktails wouldn’t be the same without orange liqueur, from margaritas and mai tais to sidecars and Cosmopolitans. Orange liqueur “adds balance and depth” to drinks, says Derrick Clune, general manager of La Paloma Café in Santa Barbara, California. But these liqueurs are certainly not all the same. Some are vibrant and intense, others richer or sweeter. But at the end of the day, a good orange liqueur “enhances rather than overwhelms a drink,” says Clune. Here’s everything to know about this expansive category of liquors, plus which bottles to invest in. What Is Orange Liqueur? A liqueur is a spirit that has been flavored and sweetened. When it comes to orange liqueur, orange is the dominant flavoring. That said, many orange liqueurs also contain other flavorings, such as spices, almond or other types of fruit. The base spirit can vary widely, from agave spirits to rum, as well as neutral grain spirits. However, thanks to the longstanding dominance of French liqueur makers like Cointreau and Grand Marnier, French brandy—especially Cognac—often forms the base of orange liqueurs. What Are the Types of Orange Liqueur? The best-known styles are curaçao and triple sec. But these are far from the only two styles. Curaçao Curaçao originated as a liqueur flavored with the dried peels of the laraha orange, a particularly bitter offshoot of the Seville orange grown on the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Artificially-colored blue curaçao was introduced by Holland’s Bols company in 1912. Today, it’s a staple in tropical cocktails and many blue-hued drinks. The French are generally credited with perfecting curaçao, often distilling orange peels with spices in unaged brandy or a neutral spirit. According to The Oxford Companion to Spirits & Cocktails, in 1891, Paris distiller Louis-Alexandre Marnier created a version that used aged Cognac, yielding the Grand Marnier brand. Since then, curaçao “has become an umbrella term for orange liqueur in general,” writes editor David Wondrich. Triple Sec Triple sec is a French innovation created in the 1850s, and started as a higher-proof, more concentrated blend of three separate distillations of different kinds of orange peels in a neutral spirit (as compared to curaçao, typically made with a single extraction). “It is sec, ‘dry,’ not because there is less sugar in it, but because there is more bitter-orange flavor and more alcohol,” explains Wondrich. Other Orange Liqueur Types While triple sec and curaçao might be some of the best known, they are far from the only options in the orange liqueur universe. For instance, there’s Holland’s purple floral Parfait Amour, made in the style of crème liqueurs. There’s also Creole Shrubb, a Caribbean staple typically made with rhum agricole macerated with orange peel and spices. Some might also classify bittersweet liqueurs like France’s Amer Picon or the Italian aperitivo Aperol as orange liqueurs. “What we’re talking about is regions that produce fruit liqueurs or make liquor and use orange skin in a neutral or not-so-neutral distillate,” says Leviticus Brown, lead bartender at Roger Room in Los Angeles. “99 Orange is schnapps, so [it’s] German, but made in Kentucky. Arancello is Italian, Agavero is Mexican, and technically pruno (prison wine) could be considered an orange liqueur,” he notes. “Anywhere you can grow oranges to either distill the juice or add the skins to distillate, you can you find some kind of orange booze to drink.” Best for Beginners If you’re building a bar from scratch, or just learning how to mix drinks, this orange liqueur works with a myriad of cocktails and won’t break the bank. Best for Tropical Drinks This product works for any cocktail that calls for complexity, including those of a tropical nature. This is a bartender favorite for a reason; it lets other ingredients shine. Best for Margaritas Because this liqueur's base spirit is tequila, it blends harmoniously in margaritas and other drinks made with agave. Most Versatile This familiar favorite melds a burst of orange peel with honey, cinnamon and ginger, making it ideal for a wide range of drinks. If you’re drinking it straight, try the pricier Grand Marnier Cuvée Louis-Alexandre. Best for Dessert Pairing All that vanilla and candied orange peel makes this full-flavored liqueur a natural to serve alongside—or instead of—dessert. Best Budget Option It depends where you live and shop, but it’s possible to scoop up this maple-and-orange-flavored liqueur for around $20. In case you can’t find it, a close runner-up is De Kuyper Triple Sec, which is less pricey but not as tasty, in our opinion. Best for Spice Lovers Bold baking spice and black pepper punch up this orange liqueur made with a base of Martinique rum. It’s ideal for adding bold flavor to punches or tropical drinks. FAQ What Does Orange Liqueur Taste Like? “Ultimately, like an orange,” says Brown. The best versions put citrus front and center in terms of aroma and flavor, and it shouldn’t be too sweet, tangy or bitter. New York City-based spirits educator Phil Duff, who previously developed spirits including orange liqueur for Dutch brand Bols, dives deeper: “You should get really fresh, zesty orange,” he says. “Ironically, you’re going to get the best of that from dried orange peel. It’s hard to get the best out of fresh ones, though some have.” Ideally, he continues, an orange liqueur should have “pure, sweet, fresh [and] almost astringent orange notes on the nose and then a pleasant, rounded palate, with enough sugar to give it body, but not enough to be cloying.” Beyond the central orange flavor and balanced sweetness, the overall flavor profile of orange liqueurs can vary, depending on the base liqueur, the amount and type of sweetener and additional flavorings. The orange flavor itself can fluctuate depending on what is used: bitter or sweet oranges; dried or fresh peels; or specific varieties like Valencia or Satsuma. What Are Popular Orange Liqueur Brands? Some mistakenly think popular brands like Cointreau and Grand Marnier are types of orange liqueur. Rather, they are name brands, and arguably the best-known. Other popular brands include Combier, Ferrand’s Dry Curacao, Mandarine Napoleon, Solerno (a blood orange liqueur) and agave-based Patron Citronge. Why You Should Trust Us All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.